White Balance Tools - Advice?

The X-Rite passport is IMO invaluable for creating custom camera profiles, and for the most part has become my go to WB tool as well.

If I'm shooting a landscape, I just try to get the passport in the same light as the landscape, that'll ensure a close enough WB target for post processing later. And the Warming/Cooling targets on the other part of it are now becoming very useful to me as well.

You would establish a custom white balance (or not). You would then properly expose the x-rite in the same lighting as your scene. Mixed light profiles can be made so you could place it in sunlight and in shade. You would then shoot your subject in RAW.
When back at the computer, you use the images of the x-rite to establish a profile for your software. (Lightroom or ACR) You would then use this profile when processing your images. At this time you can use warming and cooling squares on the image of the x-rite to adjust the shot to your taste. The profile is the big thing.

It seems, to me, from the last two descriptions, theX-Rite is a solution in search of a problem.

bohdank wrote in post #10181569
It seems, to me, from the last two descriptions, theX-Rite is a solution in search of a problem.

Hey...if your happy then just keep doing what your doing.

The passport has improved my output and is saving me a ton of time. It has also allowed me to get into art reproduction.

To each their own... I choose my custom profiles over the camera profiles in LR/ACR every time.

The WB panel and the creative adjustment panel are added/welcome bonuses.

I was looking at the Expo Disc how does this compare to the X-Rite?

X-Rite

An Expo Disc can have its place. I have one, and although it takes a back-seat to my X-Rite passport now, I have one case where I actually prefer it. In a gym with mixed lighting, I just take a shot with it towards the ceiling/general light source. I find this works very well for me.

i am now convinced. . . i'm going to get a xrite passport.